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In the 1970s there was a place where things were good, where the sun always shined, and life was ruled by girls, cars and burgers and that was California. It was a time of innocence. The songs, revolved around all sorts of teen activities, were lighthearted. No worries, except a swirling social calendar and getting a date for the prom. Occasionally, a song hinted at the impending storm but it quickly past. The Beach Boys, and to a lesser extent, Jan & Dean sang of the good times life had to offer.
Atlantic records had decided to add Rock N’ Roll to their catalog. They created a subsidiary label, ATCO (short for Atlantic Company) to release Rock records and not confuse the people that knew them as an R&B label. This proved to be a highly profitable venture starting with the signing of Buffalo Springfield. Tapping the excessive side of Hard Rock the label also scored with the Iron Butterfly and the Vanilla Fudge.
By 1969, the ‘loyalty to R&B issue’ was moot and Atlantic signed their first Rock act to their flagship label, Led Zeppelin. Eventually, ATCO faded away.
On the opposite end of the spectrum sat Bob Dylan. When Dylan emerged in the early 1960s he was seen as Folk music’s savior. The man who would provide a moral compass to the day’s events. His songs were covered by a number of artists who turned them into pop hits.
In 1965, Dylan shocked the Folk world by jumping over to Rock and going “electric.” The move, despite the criticism, proved to be both artistically and commercially successful. His lyrics, which were always his major calling card, reached a whole new audience just as the Vietnam War, civil rights, social upheaval and even the drug culture were reaching critical mass. The innocence was gone, though many tried to cling to it as long as possible. Soon enough, it became painfully obvious that “the times, they are a-changing.”
The Beach Boys featured three talented brothers, Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, a cousin, Mike Love and a friend, Al Jardine. Of them all, the most talented and sensitive was Brian. Their first hit was “Surfin’ U.S.A.” which put new lyrics to a Chuck Berry riff. The Beach Boys were soon on a roll with…
Classic rock usually refers to the music that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s and includs the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, and many others. Classic rock songs are considered to be influential and still popular today. Here are some of our favorite Classic Rock Artists.
Beach Boys God Only Knows Good Vibrations The Beatles She Loves You Help! Ticket To Ride Revolution (single version) Eric Burdon & The Animals Inside Looking Out Chambers Brothers Time Has Come Today Cream Crossroads Sunshine Of Your Love Creedence Clearwater Revival Fortunate Son The Doors Light My Fire Roadhouse Blues Bob Dylan Like A…
The allure of Rock ‘n’ Roll transcended oceans, firmly entrenching itself in England just as it had in the U.S. Yet, across the Atlantic, British youth found themselves amalgamating Rock ‘n’ Roll and R&B, unconcerned with the distinctions between them. When British artists began emulating these sounds, they blended their unique perspectives into the mix,…
The 1960s were a pivotal decade for rock music, giving rise to several essential records that helped to establish the genre. The concept album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by The Beatles revolutionized the possibilities for studio recording and songwriting. Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited” exhibited his creative brilliance and merged Folk and Rock,…